Three-dimensional image capture device, lens control device and program

Abstract

A 3D image capture device includes: a first image capturing section including a first optical system and a first image sensor that outputs a first signal to generate a first image; a second image capturing section including a second optical system that has parallax with respect to the first optical system and a second image sensor that outputs a second signal to generate a second image that has parallax with respect to the first image; a point of convergence adjusting section configured to adjust the position of the point of convergence; a working range setting section configured to set working ranges for the image stabilization working according to the position of the point of convergence; and an image stabilizing section configured to cancel the camera shake within the set working ranges.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A 3D image capture device which adjusts a point of convergence and working ranges of image stabilization, the 3D image capture device comprising:
 a first optical system having a first optical axis and including a first image stabilizer lens; 
 a first image sensor that is arranged to capture an image produced by the first optical system and that outputs a first signal to generate a first image; 
 a second optical system having a second optical axis and including a second image stabilizer lens, the second optical system having parallax with respect to the first optical system; 
 a second image sensor that is arranged to capture an image produced by the second optical system and that outputs a second signal to generate a second image; 
 a first actuator that shifts the first image stabilizer lens in a direction which intersects with the first optical axis; 
 a second actuator that shifts the second image stabilizer lens in a direction which intersects with the second optical axis; and 
 a controller that controls the first and second actuators, 
 wherein the controller:
 (i) sets a position of the point of convergence by controlling the first and second actuators to shift the first and second image stabilizer lenses; 
 (ii) sets working ranges for the image stabilization according to the position of the set point of convergence, the working ranges being narrower than movable ranges in which the first and second image stabilizer lenses are physically movable; and 
 (iii) shifts, when performing the image stabilization, the first and second image stabilizer lenses within the set working ranges by controlling the first and second actuators. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The 3D image capture device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller sets a working range in a first direction in respective planes in which the first and second image stabilizer lenses are movable to be the shorter one of respective distances over which the first and second image stabilizer lenses are movable in the first direction, and sets a working range in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction in the respective planes to be the shorter one of respective distances over which the first and second image stabilizer lenses are movable in the second direction. 
     
     
       3. The 3D image capture device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller sets left and right image stabilization working ranges according to the position of the point of convergence so that their working ranges agree with each other. 
     
     
       4. A 3D image capture device which adjusts a point of convergence and working ranges of image stabilization, the 3D image capture device comprising:
 a first optical system having a first optical axis; 
 a first image sensor that is arranged to capture an image produced by the first optical system and that outputs a first signal to generate a first image; 
 a second optical system having a second optical axis and having parallax with respect to the first optical system; and 
 a second image sensor that is arranged to capture an image produced by the second optical system and that outputs a second signal to generate a second image; 
 a first actuator that shifts the first image sensor in a direction which intersects with the first optical axis; 
 a second actuator that shifts the second image sensor in a direction which intersects with the second optical axis; and 
 a controller that controls the first and second actuators, 
 wherein the controller:
 (i) sets a position of the point of convergence by controlling the first and second actuators to shift the first and second image sensors; 
 (ii) sets working ranges for the image stabilization according to the position of the set point of convergence, the working ranges being narrower than movable ranges in which the first and second image sensors are physically movable; and 
 (iii) shifts, when performing the image stabilization, the first and second image sensors within the set working ranges by controlling the first and second actuators. 
 
 
     
     
       5. The 3D image capture device of  claim 4 , wherein the controller sets a working range in a first direction in respective planes in which the first and second image sensors are movable to be the shorter one of respective distances over which the first and second image sensors are movable in the first direction, and sets a working range in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction in the respective planes to be the shorter one of respective distances over which the first and second image sensors are movable in the second direction. 
     
     
       6. A 3D image capture device which adjusts a point of convergence and working ranges of image stabilization, the 3D image capture device comprising:
 a first optical system having a first optical axis; 
 a first image sensor that is arranged to capture an image produced by the first optical system and that outputs a first signal to generate a first image; 
 a second optical system having a second optical axis and having parallax with respect to the first optical system; and 
 a second image sensor that is arranged to capture an image produced by the second optical system and that outputs a second signal to generate a second image; 
 an image processor that generates first image data by extracting a first image area from an image represented by the first signal and generates second image data by extracting a second image area from an image represented by the second signal; 
 wherein the image processor:
 (i) sets a position of the point of convergence by determining the first and second areas; 
 (ii) sets working ranges for the image stabilization according to the position of the set point of convergence, the working ranges being narrower than movable ranges in which the first and second image areas can be shifted; and 
 (iii) shifts, when performing the image stabilization, the first and second areas within the set working ranges. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The 3D image capture device of  claim 6 , wherein the image processor sets a working range in a first direction in respective planes of the first and second image areas to be the shorter one of respective distances over which the first and second image areas are movable on their image in the first direction, and sets a working range in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction in the respective planes to be the shorter one of respective distances over which the first and second image areas are movable on their image in the second direction. 
     
     
       8. A lens control device, comprising:
 a first optical system having a first optical axis and including a first image stabilizer lens; 
 a second optical system having a second optical axis that intersects with the first optical axis and including a second image stabilizer lens; 
 a first actuator that shifts the first image stabilizer lens in a direction which intersects with the first optical axis; 
 a second actuator that shifts the second image stabilizer lens in a direction which intersects with the second optical axis; and 
 a controller that controls the first and second actuators, 
 wherein the controller:
 (i) sets a position of a point of convergence by controlling the first and second actuators to shift the first and second image stabilizer lenses; 
 (ii) sets working ranges for an image stabilization with according to the position of the set point of convergence, the working ranges being narrower than movable ranges in which the first and second image stabilizer lenses are physically movable; and 
 (iii) shifts, when performing the image stabilization, the first and second image stabilizer lenses within the set working ranges by controlling the first and second actuators.